CC Bishop

While picking the best potential bracket, it’s important to focus on factors such as win-loss differentials and overall game records instead of leaving it to chance.

On March 16, 2025, bracket selection officially opened to millions of people across the United States. However, before you start writing down names at random, selecting based on mascots, or choosing teams simply because you like their names, take a moment to understand some theories about the upcoming March Madness tournament.

March Madness has occurred for 86 years; the NCAA is happy to announce the month we’ve been waiting for is underway. Each year, it has been recorded that about 60 to 100 million people across the United States participate in bracket making, both in men’s and women’s sections. And I, being one of them, can agree that it has got to be one of my absolute favorite parts of March. That being said, the odds of creating a perfect bracket are nearly impossible to beat, being 1 to 9.2 quintillion. To put it into perspective, that’s 1 in nearly 9 billion billions, so, it’s not as easy as it seems.

If the odds are so impossibly low, then why even waste time participating? Well, in any circumstance, your odds of winning would be low, but I can give you some pointers that will make your selection more probable. First and foremost, when picking your champion, I would suggest choosing a team at least a 6 seed or higher. Out of all the years of gameplay, the lowest seed to have ever won was an 8 seed (Villanova, 1985). However, I’m not saying that picking upsets is the worst thing to do. For example, if deciding between an 8 or 9 seed to progress in the tournament, that’s when it may be more of a toss-up. This is when it’s important to take into account additional factors such as game records, season records, and all win and loss statistics.

This year, for example, I have been keeping a close eye on the Florida Gators. Averaging 85.4 points per game and a win-loss differential of 30 to 4, the Gators seem like a pretty good contender this season. The team has a great offense, and this is shown through their point average. They also have pretty good team chemistry and a strong starting lineup, making them a great team to make the final four. While planning for next year, however, many of their key players are upperclassmen, so it’s crucial to take this into account for choice-making in the future.

Another team I’ve been paying close attention to is Duke. Thus far, I’ve seen much potential in their team as well. Similar to the Gators, Duke has averaged 83.5 points each game and has a win-loss differential of 29 to 3. Duke is sitting as a good selection choice for the championship. However, as of their game against Georgia Tech on Thursday, March 13, freshman offense star, Copper Flagg was rolled off the court after a severe left ankle injury. Considering how much Flagg benefited the team, it makes me rethink my bracket choices.

That’s only the start. Looking at the bracket choices for women NCAA also presents a series of competitive, fast-paced, basketball games. UCLA in particular, has averaged 78.8 points per game and has a win-loss differential of 30 to 2. Looking further than these basic statistics, it’s important to examine the team’s general gameplay throughout the season. This team, for example, has a very strong starting lineup and defensive play. Each game, they average about 15 turnovers and 7.4 steals; their team has a very great possibility of taking the title this year.

Still, even though these different teams have high potential this year, anything can happen. These are just a couple of examples of how rapidly changing the NCAA season is, hence the “madness.” Now, as you prepare to make your selections, I encourage you to embrace the unpredictability, remain open-minded, and enjoy it while it lasts! Even if you have never participated before, now is the perfect time to get involved.